Butler Bulldogs at Siena Saints

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Butler (-6)
Game Total Line: (139)
(wagering lines available at 5Dimes)

The Butler Bulldogs, out of the Horizon Conference take on the Siena Saints, out of the MAAC in a battle between two mid-major powers this Tuesday night. Tip-off from the Times Union Center is set for 7 p.m. (ET).

Butler is looking to use last season’s incredible run all the way to the NCAA Tournament Finals as a springboard to another successful season in 2010-2011. The Bulldogs got off on the right foot with an 83-54 win over Marian in their home opener. They outscored the Knights by 14 points in the first half and pulled away for good early in the second. There was no line on this game.

This next game proved to be a much tougher challenge as Butler came up on the short end of an 88-73 loss to Louisville on the road. The Bulldogs trailed by 18 points at the half and were unable to ever really get back into the game. They failed to cover as a 1 ½ point road underdog and the total went ‘over’ the 136 total.

Last time out, Butler got back on track with a convincing 88-55 win over Ball State as a 12-point home favorite. The total once again went ‘over’ with the line set at 137 ½. Junior guard Shelvin Mack led the way with 19 points and junior forward Matt Howard added 16 points and 10 rebounds in the winning effort. Mack is the team’s leading scorer; averaging 21.3 points per game and Howard leads the team in rebounds; averaging 8.7.

Siena has had rocky start to this season’s campaign with an 80-76 loss to Vermont in its opener and a 76-69 loss to Minnesota last Monday. There was no line for the Vermont game and the Saints covered as a 15 ½ point road underdog in the loss to the Golden Gophers. The total went ‘over’ the 143 line.

Siena posted its first win of season this past Saturday with an 84-68 win over Northeastern as a four-point road underdog. The Saints shot 50 percent from the floor in the first half and raised things up a notch or two by shooting 68.4 percent in the second half to blow open a tight game. Senior forward Ryan Rossiter had the hot hand for the Saints with 28 points and 15 rebounds while senior guard Clarence Jackson, the team’s leading scorer, dumped in another 24 points and added three assists. The total in this game went ‘over’ the 139 point line.

Butler is 8-2 straight-up in its last 10 games and 7-2 against the spread in its last nine games. The total has stayed ‘under’ in five of its last eight games overall.

Siena is 6-4 SU in its last 10 games and 4-5 ATS in its last nine. The total has stayed ‘under’ in six of their last nine games overall, but has gone ‘over’ in its last three.

These two teams faced each other once last season with Butler coming out on top 70-53 and covering as a nine-point road favorite. The total stayed ‘under’ the 141 point line.

The Bulldogs should be able to control the pace of this game with Mack and senior guard Shawn Vanzant as well as the boards with Howard. Take Butler to win and cover the seven points.
Take the Baylor -6 at Betus.